Envelop-sealing machine.



C. H. DAVIS.

ENVELOP SEALING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY22, 1913.

Patented May 18, 1915.

LKSQAQQO 3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR, CkrZ ii. 194%.);

BY r a ATTORNEY.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTQLITHQ, WASHINGmN, D. c.

C. H DAVIS.

ENVELOP SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1913.

Patented May 18, 1915.

LIEAQQB 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- .III

NVENTOR,

arZ E Davzl;

A TTORNEY.

vun

mb y IV/TNESSES:

THE NORRIS PETERS 60., FHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D. C

C H. DAVIS.

ENVELOP SEALING MACHINE.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAY 22. 1913.

1 139 4990 Patented May 18, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY.

W/TNESSL'S:

THE NORRIS PETERS c0., PHQTG-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D. C

STAES ATN FFTQE.

CARL H. DAVIS, 0F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES ENVELOP SEALING MACHINE COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A

CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

ENVELOP-SEALING MACHINE.

Application filed May 22, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CARL H. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop Sealing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved form of means for moistening the gummed flap of envelops of various kinds; wherein the outermost envelop in a pile will first have its flap moistened by a rotary member, and thereupon a feeding member will advance the moistened envelop from the pile to a suitable pressing means, such for instance as a pair of rolls.

A further object of the invention is to provide a form of rotary moistening head or device that at one position is entirely free from the flap of an outermost envelop in a pile, and as the head turns it will pass between the flap and the envelop to apply moisture to the inner gummed face of the flap; and when the continued movement of the head disengaged the flap, such envelops being advanced beyond the pile, the succeeding envelop in the pile can advance to have its projecting flap engaged by the head as its revolution continues.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a form of moistening head, in the form of a vessel or reservoir adapted to have an absorbent member, that is exposed at one portion to engage the flap, project down into the reservoir to be maintained moist by fluid therein, or by a mass of absorbent material therein that will serve to feed the said absorbent member.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for receiving the moistened and sealed envelops in a receptacle and causing them to be placed at the bottom of the pile in the receptacle as each is delivered from the rolls, so that the envelops will be stacked in the receiving receptacle with the face upward and in regular order.

In the accompanying drawings, represent ing one embodiment of my invention Figure 1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 shows the feeding slide. Fig. 4; is a vertical section enlarged on the line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a frag- Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented May 18, 1915.

Serial No. 769,169.

mentary vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. moistening head. Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are vertical sections through the moistening head, as indicated by their respective lines on Fig. 6; andFig. 10 shows separately the absorbent moistening member.

The machine is shown as comprising a frame work denoted generally by 12, at the top 13 of which is arranged a receptacle R, having guides 14 and 15; the portion of the top 13 forming the bottom of the receptacle being provided with a triangular opening 16 of a size slightly larger than the projecting flap 17 of an envelop 18; whereby the insertion of a pile of envelops in this receptacle each having its flap lowermost, will bring the flap to project through the opening 16, of the bottom envelop, as they are successively delivered from the bottom of the pile. Just below the said bottom plate 13, and a short distance beyond the flap opening 16, is mounted a rotatable head, provided with one portion that as the head revolves, will pass between the flap and its envelop to moisten the inner gummed face of the flap, the head being so formed at another portion that when the rotation of the head continues it will not project below this opening; so that when the gummed envelop is advanced to suitable pressing means to be sealed, the succeeding envelop at the bottom of the pile, passing downwardly will cause its flap to project downward through the opening, without interference of the moistening head.

In the construction illustrated a shaft 20 is supported on a cross bar 21 to rotate with its axis vertical, and at the upper end of this shaft is secured the moistening head, comprising a vessel having its bottom comparatively fiat at the central portion 22, and thence having a downwardly converging portion 23 of annular form, that at the top and outer edge is substantally concentric for about one half of the circumference, as shown in Fig. 6; while for the other portion of the periphery the margin extends in a curve that is much eccentric to the axis of the head, as indicated by the line 24 in Fig. 6. The outer and upper edge of this converging wall 23 of the vessel is arranged in a horizontal plane, and serves to receive a top plate 25 of similar outline, and which may be provided with a small opening 26 at Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the this view by the curved line 28; which projection is also shown in Fig. 4 at the right hand side of the shaft of the head. An absorbent member is placed in engagement with this overhanging or projecting portion of the top plate, and such member is caused to project down into the vessel to receive the moisture; and as shown, the absorbent member is in the form of a disk 29 whose outline is substantially the same as that of the top plate 25, as indicated in Fig. 10, but this member adjacent its portion that engages the eccentric margin 24 of the vessel top, is providedwith elongated opening 30; and from the center or axial portion, this member is provided with a number of radial cuts or slits 31, and is also provided with a notched portion at 32 to provide for the tubular portion 33 of the vessel extending up from the base 22, and clamped to the shaft 20 by suitable means. This disk of fabric 29 is placed on the bottom face of the top member 25 and the latter is secured on top of the said vessel 23, as indicated in Fig. 4; whereby the fabric will be exposed on a lower face, lining the bottom of the projecting portion of the top, and extending between the curved lines 28 and 27, as clearly shown in the bottom plan view Fig. 6, while along the line 24 the fabric does not extend beyond the wall 23. 7

When the absorbent member 29 is first placed on top of the vessel 23, before the top plate '25 is placed thereon, it can be pressed down to engage the bottom portion of the vessel, that is permitted by reason of the radial cuts 31; and a mass of absorbent material of any desired nature can be placed on top of the fabric and around the tubular central portion 33, as indicated in'the drawing, and then the top member is secured in place to hold the parts as shown in the several views; and water may be poured in through the opening 26, that will flow down on to the absorbent material and saturate the same, and thereby the absorbent disk will be maintained saturated with moisture for a considerable length of time.

A pile of envelops being placed in the re ceptacle R each with its flap lowermost, the bottom envelop will have its flap occupy a position as indicated by 17 in Fig. 4; and in this position of the head as shown in this Fig. 4, the head is turned to a positionin which the eccentric edge 24 is nearest the flap 17, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1, and as the radius of the head is shortest at this point, as indicated at 35 in Fig. 6, the entire area of thehead will be to the rear of the flap opening 16; and it 'is't'o'be understood that at such position of. the head, a moistened envelop will be delivered and the succeeding envelop in the pile moving down to the bottom plate will have its.

flap 17. project downwardly below. the plane portion indicated by the section line 7 7 of Fig. 6 coincides with the. section line 44 of Fig. 1. In this position of the head it will appear as indicated in the section of Fig. 7, and the moistening head will now extend a considerable distance between the flap 17 and the body of the envelop 18 as here indicated; and further turning of the head will bring the portion indicated by the section line 8-8 of Fig. 6 to'the longitudinal axis 44, as shown in Fig. 8. It will be seen from Fig. 6 that this section line passes through a projecting portion of the top plate whose lower face is lined with the absorbent member 25. and the latter being saturated with moisture from the vessel, will now move over the inner gummed face of the envelop flap; as indicated by the section of Fig. 9. The rotation of the head continuing, the flap will be further moistened for practically one half of the revolution, as indicated by the exposed portion 36 of the absorbent member in Fig. 6; until the diameter 77 again coincides with the longitudinal axis 44. F or the remaining quarter of a complete revolution, the envelop will not be engaged by any exposed' portion ofthe absorbent piece,and it is during this stage of the revolution that the envelop whose flap is now moistened is ejected by'suitablemeans, to permit the succeeding envelop to fall and present its flap through the opening 17. Y

A reciprocating feed slide is provided which is automatically actuated in timed relation to the head to advance the envelop by engaging the envelop flap at its junction with the body of the envelop. This feed slide is in the form of a flat plate 40, V

of the form shown in Fig. 3, and preferably recessed at its forward edge and made with the opposite separated extremities 40 40, so as to contact only at opposite points with the envelop. This feed slide plate is slidably mounted in suitable guideways therefor, and its location is between. the top 25v of the head and the bottom member 13 of the envelop receiving receptacle; and this plate has a depending bracket 41 with a rearwardly offset extension 41 to which one end of the link 42 is connected by a pivot 41, and the other portion 43 of said link is pivotally connected to a crank pin 44 carried by a rotatable gear 45 that meshes with a gear 46 fast on the shaft 20 and which gears rotate in unison, producing one reciprocation of the slide for each revolution of the shaft 20 and the head carried thereby. The slide 40 is so arranged by operation of this means, that it will pass beneath the flap and move it forward between suitable pressing rolls 47 and 48 suitably mounted on the machine to receive the envelop; and if desired, the envelop may pass between suitable guide members 49 and 50 to direct it into the rolls as advanced. And it is to be understood that it is during the last quarter of the revolution of the head that the final advance of the slide is effected to move the envelo into the roll and thereupon retreat to permit the next envelop to bring its flap at the opening 16. The guide member 50 is shown provided with adjusting screws 81 at two portions that engage the brackets 14 of the receptacle R, whereby the position of this member can be regulated as desired; as shown in Fig. 5. It will thus be seen that the envelop while in a fixed or stationary position, has the inner gummed face of its flap engaged by a continuously rotating member, that serves merely to moisten the flap, but does not advance the envelop; while at the proper stage in the revolution of the moistening member, a slide, that is shown as continuously reciprocating advances to engage the moistened envelop and delivers it beyond the pile of envelops, and into suitable pressing means, and at once is retracted to permit the next envelop in the pile to advance its flap, so that on the second revolution of the moistening member the advanced envelop will be moistened. Means are further provided for receiving the envelop from the pressing or sealing means, such as the pressing rolls 47 and 48, into a suitable receptacle, and causing the envelop to be placed successively at the bottom of the pile in the receptacle; and which means are shown in the form of one or more rotary members, each having an opening arranged to receive the envelop as delivered while at the same time supporting the previously received envelops in the receptacle, and then as the member rotates such envelop is delivered to the bottom of the pile and the opening is brought to receive the next envelop from the rolls.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 a receptacle is shown formed by members 90, 51, 52 and 53, arranged at the four sides of a rectangle and located a short distance beyond the rolls 47 and 48; the bottom of the receptacle being open, but provided with a pair of bars 54 and 55 in position to receive the envelop as delivered horizontally from the said rolls. A number of identical rotary members 56 are shown in the form of disks that are secured on a shaft 57, parallel with the said rolls; these members 56 having the periphery for about half of the circumference formed substantially concentric with the shaft, and being provided with an open portion 58 having a mouth at 59, the opening extending at a considerable angle to a radius at the mouth, and lying under a kind of horn portion 60 of the member.

It will be seen from Fig. 4 that the concentric portion of each member 56 extends a short distance above the supporting bar 54, while the mouth of the opening will lie partly below this bar, so that at one portion of the rotation of the member, the opening can receive the envelop as fed along the bar 54; and as the rotation continues in the direction of the arrow, the eccentric portion 60 of the member, will tend to move the envelop until it strikes the stops formed by the lower inwardly oflset portions 7 3 of the upright bars 90, and as the opening is carried around the envelop will be thereby moved out of the opening and engaged by the concentric portion of the disk and moved upward into the receptacle. As the duplicated disks continue to rotate the now empty opening will be again brought opposite the rolls to receive the next envelop, while the preceding envelop will be supported by the horn portion of the disk. Therefore it will be seen that as each envelop is delivered by the roll, it will be received into the openings in the rotary members 57, and then placed at the bottom of the pile of previously received envelops in the receptacle.

The rotary members are driven in timed relation to the moistening head and advancing slide, and also to the rolls, whereby as each envelop is advanced and sealed by the rolls it will be delivered into the opening of the rotary member; hence these two members, the head and the stacking member practically rotate in unison. To effect this relative movement, the shaft 20 carries a worm wheel 62 meshing with a worm 63 on a main driving shaft 64; and the latter carries a worm 65 that engages a worm wheel 66 on a vertical shaft 67, which shaft by gears 68 and 69 drive the shaft 57 in unison with the shaft 20. A pulley 70 on the shaft 57 drives a belt 71 passing around a pulley 72 fast to the upper roll 47, to rotate the latter at the proper peripheral speed, to pass the envelop between the rolls as fed thereto by the slide.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with means for supporting envelops and to permit the free extension of the flap of the envelop angularly relatively to its body, of a head mounted to rotate on an axis perpendicular to the plane in which the envelop body is supported, provided at its margin with a beveled portion adapted to extend between the projecting flap of the envelop and'its body and having at a marginal portion thereof an absorbent moistening member to have, under the rotation of the head, an impingement relatively to the gummedvportion of the flap, means for the rotation of the head, and a feed slide movable closely relatively to said head in a line at right angles to the axis of rotation of the latter for engaging the envelop and advancing it beyond the location of the head.

2. The combination with a receptacle for envelops having an opening in the bottom for the flap to project downward beyond the bottom, of a moistening head mounted to rotate adjacent the position of the projecting flap, the head being provided at one portion only of its margin with an absorbent member exposed on a lower face arranged upon rotation of the head to engage the inner gummed face of the projecting flap during one portion only of the revolution of the head, pressing means arranged in prox-' imity to the receptacle, and a feed slide operatively connected with the head to reciprocate at each revolution of the head to engage the envelop flap and advance the moistened envelop to the pressing means.

3. The combination with a receptacle for envelops having an opening in the bottom for the flap to project downward beyond the bottom, of a moistening head mounted to rotate adjacent the position of the projecting flap, the head having its margin at one portion arranged to engage the inner gmnmed face of the projecting flap at one portion of the revolution of the head, the head being of less diameter at another portion to have the margin at such part clear the normal flap position at another stage in the revolution of the head, whereby upon discharge of the moistened envelop from the receptacle bottom the next envelop in the receptacle can present its flap through said opening in the bottom.

4. The combination with a receptacle for envelops having an opening in the bottom for the flap to project downward beyond the bottom, of a moistening head mounted to rotate adjacent the position of the projecting flap, the head having its margin at one portion arranged to engage the inner gummed face of the projecting flap at one portion of the revolution of the head, the head being of less diameter at another portion to have the margin at such part clear the normal flap position at another stage in the revolution of the head, whereby upon discharge of the moistened envelop from the receptacle bottom, the next envelop in the receptacle can present its iflap through said opening in the bottom, pressing means, and a feed slide operatively connected with the head to reciprocate at each revolution of the head to engage the envelop flap and advance the moistened envelop to the pressing. means;

5. The combination with a receptacle for envelops having an opening in the bottom for the flap to project downward beyond the bottom, of a moistening head mounted to rotate adjacent the position of the projecting flap, the head having its margin at one portion provided with absorbent material exposed on a lower face and arranged to engage the inner gummed face of the projecting flap at one'portion of the revolution of the head, the head being of less diameter at another portion to have the marg n at such part clear the normal flap position at another stage in the revolution of the head, whereby upon discharge of the 'moistened envelop from the receptacle the next envelop in the receptacle can present its flap through said opening in the bottom, pressing means arranged in proximity to the receptacle, and a feed slide operatively connected with the head to reciprocate at each revolution of the head to engage the envelop flap and advance the moistened envelop to the pressing means' i 6. The combination with a receptacle for I envelops having. an opening in the bottom for the flap to project downward beyond the bottom, of a moistening head mounted to rotate adjacent the position of the projecting flap, the head being provided at one portion only of its margin with an absorbent member exposed on a lower fa-ce arranged upon rotation of the head to engage the inner gummed face of the projectingfiap' during one portion only of the revolution of the head, the head having a closed chamber into which the absorbent material extends to lie on the bottom thereof, and an absorbent member resting upon said member to moisten the same, pressing means arranged slide operatively connected with the head to reciprocate at each revolution of the head to engage the envelop flap and advance the moistened envelop to the pressing means.

7. A moistening head for envelops 'com-- said projecting portion of the top plate and in proximity to the receptacle, and a feed adapted to enter between the flap of an envelop and the body to moisten the inner face of the flap.

8. A moistening head for envelops comprising a vessel supported to rotate on a vertical axis eccentric to the mar in of the vessel, the upper edge of the sides lying in a horizontal plane and converging downwardly therefrom, a plate secured on the said top portion of the vessel and projecting beyond the top of the vessel at its portion of larger radius, and a piece of absorbent fabric secured between the top of the vessel and said top plate and extending down into the vessel at its inner portion, said fabric extending beyond the vessel in engagement with the lower face of said projecting portion of the top plate and adapted to enter between the flap of an envelop and the body to moisten the inner face of the flap.

9. The combination with a receptacle for envelops having an opening in the bottom for the flap to project downward beyond the bottom, of a nioistening head comprising a vessel supported to rotate on a vertical axis adjacent the position of the projecting flap, the head comprising a vessel having its upper edge at the sides lying in a horizontal plane and converging downwardly therefrom, a plate secured on the said top portion and projecting beyond the said top of the vessel at one portion, and a piece of ab sorbent fabric secured between the top of the vessel and said plate and extending down into the vessel at its inner portion, said fabric extending beyond the vessel in engagement with the lower face of said projecting portion of the top plate, said projecting portion and engaging fabric portion being of greater. radius than the other portions of the vessel relative to its axis, to thereby enter between the envelop flap and the envelop to moisten the inner face of the flap, the flap being free from the head margin beyond said projecting portion.

10. The combination with a receptacle for envelops having an opening in the bottom for the flap to project downward beyond the bottom, of a moistening head comprising a vessel supported to rotate on a vertical axis eccentric to the margin of the vessel and adjacent the position of the projecting flap, the

head comprising a vessel having its upper edge at the sides lying in a horizontal plane and converging downwardly therefrom, a plate secured on the said top portion of the vessel and projecting beyond the vessel at its portion of larger radius, and a piece of absorbent fabric secured between the vessel top and the top plate and extending down into the vessel at its inner portion, said fabric extending beyond the vessel in engagement with the lower face of said plate projection, said plate projection and fabric portion thereunder being arranged on rotation of the head to pass between the flap and the envelop to moisten the inner face of the flap, the flap being free from the head member beyond said projecting portion.

11. The combination with a receptacle for envelops having an opening in the bottom for the flap to project downward beyond the bottom, of a moistening head comprising a vessel supported to rotate on a vertical axis eccentric to the margin of the vessel and adjacent the position of the projecting flap, the head comprising a vessel having its upper edge at the sides lying in a horizontal plane and converging downwardly therefrom, a plate secured on the said top portion of the vessel and projecting beyond the vessel at its portion of larger radius, a piece of absorbent fabric secured between the vessel top and the top plate and extending down into the vessel at its inner portion, said fabric extending beyond the vessel in engagement with the lower face of said plate projection, said plate projection and fabric portion thereunder being arranged on rotation of the head to pass between the flap and the envelop to moisten the inner face of the flap, the flap being free from the head member beyond said projecting portion, and a feed slide operatively connected with the head to reciprocate at each revolution of the head to engage the envelop flap and advance the moistened envelop to the pressing means.

Signed by me at Springfield, Mass, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL H. DAVIS. Witnesses:

G. R. DnIscoLL, J. D. Lone.

Goples of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. G. 

